Hat block



April 6 1926.

Filed Oct, 31 1922 e/. e a a o u i #6 04 f 1 1 Q II D U Q 0 o ve p u v Q o l l 11 12 .3 I W 4 G15 16y .7.1.; 7

J. H. JOHNSON HAT BLOCK INVENTOR James H-c/01712JOI7,'

A "l'ORNEY 1N5 thereof in the accompanying drawings in Patented Apr. 6, 1926.

'UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

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0] INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED STATES HOFF- OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELA- EAT BLOCK.

Application filed October :1, 1922. Serial no. 598,186.

To all whom it my concern:

Be it known that I, James H. JOHNSON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Indianapolis, in the county of Marion and State of Indiana, useful Hat Blocks, is a specification.

My invention relates toimprovements in hat blocks and has for one of its objects the provision of means whereby blocks of various sizes and shapes may be suitably heated for blocking and shaping hats, from a single heating apparatus.

For the purpose of disclosing my invention I have illustrated certain embodiments of which the following which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus embodying my invention.

gig. 2 is an enlarged detail section thereof an Fig. 3 is an of block.

In the structure illustrated I provide a suitable base 1 which is referably cylindrical in shape and at its ttom is provided with chamber. 2 and near its top with a socket 3, the socket 3 preferably being an enlargement of the c amber 2 whereby a shoulder a is formed on the inner circumference of the base. This base is preferably mounted upon a bench 5, or other supporting member, which 6 to receive the lower end of the base, a flange 7 being provided for 'supportin the base in osition on the'bench. This ange 7 is re erably screw threaded on to base 1 and held on bench by means of screws or bolts or the like, whereby when desired, the base ma readily be removed from the bench.

The at forming block 8 is rotatably mounted on the base and this block comprises a hollow shell preferably formed of aluminum and having a plurality f steam openings 9 formed .therein. The bottom of the shell is provided with interiomy ,extendin annular flange 10 by which it is to a disc-like extension 11 of a swivel neck 12 arranged to be inserted in elevation of a modified form the socket 3 of the base. The neck 12 is have invented new and Fenchis recessed at hollow so that there will be a communication through this neck between the chamber 2 and the interior of the block shell 8. Screw threaded into the bottom of the base 1 1s a steam supply pipe 13 provided with a suitable hand valve I l-and this pipe communicates with a jet head 15 arranged within the chamber 2 and provided with a plurahty of jet openings 16. By the use of the head the projection of any water of condensation upwardly through the neck is prevented, a point of advantage as it is not desirable to have water pass through the steam openings 9. A drain port 17 is formed in the bottom of the chamber 2 which port communicates with a drain pipe'18 having a A suitable cook 19 at its end.

In operation the shell 8 of suitable size and shape for the hat to be blocked is selected and the neck 12 thereof is socketed into the base 1, whereby when live steam is admitted through the jet 15 it will pass out through the openings 9 into the hat, heating the same and softening the hat so that it may be suitably blocked. At the same time the joint between the block and base 1 permits the blockto be freely rotated so that the operator may properly manipulate thehat in blocking the same.

In Fig. 3 I have illustrated another form of block which is particularly ada ted for bats of the fedora type. The she I of this block it will be noted, is provided with a center crease or recess 20 to permit the blocking 'of the crease-in a hat of this character.

I claim as my, 'nvention: 1. In a device of the character specified,

the combination of a socketed base; means.

base.

drawing of the hat di- 2. In a device of the character specified, a hollow perforated hat forming block sethe combination of a socketed base; a steam cured to the neck. supply pipe connected therewith; ajet cham- In witness whereof, I have hereunto set 10 her located within the lower portion of the my hand at Indianapolis, Indiana, August, 5 base and communicating with the steam sup- A- 11 hou and nine hundred and ply; a swivel neck seated within and suptwenty two. ported by the upper end of the base; and JABES H. JOHNSON. 

